Adam Thielen

The Minnesota Vikings have more confidence and optimism heading into this offseason than they did a year ago. They have two of the most important pieces in place in head coach Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater. Also, they improved in several areas from the past season. The Vikings have 12 free agents this offseason, but just one opening day starter.

The Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears for a 13-9 victory Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings finish the season with the third best record in the NFC North, despite winning just one inter-divisional game. The Vikings’ good, but not great, performances from the offense, defense and special teams units helped bring the win home.

The Minnesota Vikings were just getting started, with a rookie quarterback and a first-time head coach in Mike Zimmer so eager to maintain momentum he told the players to report to practice in a few days.

The Minnesota Vikings are not just playing Miami and playing out a season. It’s an audition for some to stay on the roster. Charles Johnson has come from nowhere to “pass” with flying colors, maybe because he thinks he should. Johnson has been working, waiting and anticipating his shot.

The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Adam Thielen has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week. Thielen blocked a punt, recovered the ball and ran it in for a touchdown in the first quarter of Sunday’s 31-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The Minnesota Vikings used two big special teams plays to defeat the Carolina Panthers 31-13 Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. Adam Thielen and Everson Griffen returned a pair of blocked punts for touchdowns in the first half. Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of touchdown passes to help the blowout. The defense struggled to stop the run, but made plays in the second half when they needed to.

The Minnesota Vikings may not have been able to play a worse Thursday in Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. The surrendered the first 42 points and could only muster 10 points in garbage time in the fourth quarter. Their is very little positive things to say about the game for the Vikings.

A perfect example of doing what it takes to make the team is wide receiver and special teams player, Adam Thielen. Thielen is right at home in Vikings training camp, as he went to college at Minnesota-State Mankato.

The Minnesota Vikings claimed former Chicago Bears offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb and released Troy Kropog Sunday. Head coach Leslie Frazier said that he would talk about injuries on Wednesday, including the right knee of Kevin Williams. The Vikings filled their practice squad roster with eight players.

Joe Webb’s athleticism was too much to part with for the Minnesota Vikings. After converting Webb to wide receiver this spring, following a failed emergency playoff start at quarterback when Christian Ponder was out with an injury, the Vikings kept the versatile former sixth-round draft pick for special teams value and depth at an important position. Webb, in the fourth and final year of his contract, was one of five wide receivers on the 53-man regular-season roster revealed Saturday after the cut deadline.

Cordarrelle Patterson and fellow rookie wide receiver Adam Thielen are training camp roommates with the Minnesota Vikings. Patterson was a first-round draft selection from Tennessee, a player the Vikings coveted enough to trade four lower picks to move up and get.

Everything on Friday was the usual for Adam Thielen. He donned purple football gear and went out to practice on the very field – the Minnesota State University, Mankato – where he’d spent the last five years solidifying himself as one of the best Maverick wideouts ever. The one difference on Friday was, this time he did it as a pro.

Detroit Lakes-native Adam Thielen put on quite a show during Vikings mini-camp last week. He had a magical fall while playing at Minnesota State Mankato. While the coach was on leave, the team rallied and ran the table in the conference before losing in the NCAA playoffs. “Most fun year I ever had. To be able to focus on just football and come together as a team and just really play our hearts out and give it all we got,” Thielen said.